Patrick Beverley to avoid surgery, will return for the Rockets this year

When Patrick Beverley was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his knee, most were quick to write him off for the season. After all, we had seen the same injury knock Derrick Rose out for six months and Russell Westbrook for the entire playoffs within the last year, so it made little sense to expect Beverley could return this year. However, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, Beverley will avoid surgery on the injury and return to play this season.

We saw Metta World Peace do the same last year, returning to play 12 days after tearing his meniscus, but even he had to have surgery. Brandon Roy had surgery and returned in the playoffs for the Blazers, but looked nowhere near his old self and that proved to be nearly the end for him.

I don't know enough about the injury as I am not a doctor nor do I know the extent of Beverley's injury, but if the team is confident in Beverley's ability to return without surgery, I would be inclined to believe they don't think the long term risk is too great. Beverley is just 25, in his first full season in the league, and is already playing at a high level, so I believe the Rockets view him as a long term asset that they would not want to destroy by risking him rushing back. Still, a return like this without surgery is relatively unprecedented as of late.

Regardless of the long term ramifications, this is great news for the Rockets hopes this season, and as they head into a playoffs where they could face Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Russell Westbrook, they'll need all the help they can get at the point guard spot.